Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-03-24
THREE SCENES IN \ LIFE.

u II
Not much TO sce-onlv blOod-stains
on the floor of gamblng-Saloon at
Foudricre, I'LL traces Of winch the atIcn-
dants were. hastily removing; not much
to hcar-onIy the footsteps OF those ',ho
were carrying ont the dead, and the
idle comments Of players and loungers.
mot case Of suicide, said one of
tho habtUcS to an English officer stand
ing near the dooiS-"Oh, no. He burst
blood-yessel in his intense excitement,
and died almost Instantly An English
mang Well, yes, think so-husband
of the pretty girl we saw yesterday at
The EtabiisScmcnL Very i'll she looked;
and quite "A young child was at her
side.
Aud then arose the CRY of "Faites ie
jeH pltS@curs" and the deatn-scene
was forgotten, and the gamblers re-
sumod their absorbing play.
A small apartment in quiet street,
and Girl leaning from an open case
mcnL gazing at the peaceful sky. Her
face was very pale, with deep shadows
under the eyes, telling Of many weary
vigil like that which she was then keep
ing,
Would he retrieve an, as ne had as
surei her? Would the terrible losses Of
the past weeks bo repaired IN few short
hours? So he had said, and SO believed,
aud in hearing him she believed also.
And now would the long hours never
pass would he never Gomez She looked
round ut the neat but poor room, NJ the
sleeping child, and at tho little table
with the white roll and flask Of cheap
wine all their scanty means would al
low her to proyide-aud then, turning
again to the window, she resumed her
lonely watch, shyering slightly rs the
breeze utlled her soft brown Curls and
the uight-birds' cry fell on the stiffness
of the deserted street
Not many months before, Harry
Vaughan. with his vito and child, bad
arrived nj Foudricru lie was an artist
and hoped 10y a winter amongst tairer
scenes and in mlder AR to recruit his
failing health and find fresh subjects tOI
his pencil.
1t was ON ono of his skctchinE oNcur
siuns that he formed the acquaintance
of "a young trenchman, who tempted
him into "a gaming saloon with no other
thought thau that OF passing away M
idle hour But the consequences of thai
one visit had boon fatal. Several men
had been winning heavily, and the eN-
element of play entered like madness
into the brain of the Young English
man, aud he staked again and again
small sums, certainly but still enough
to feed the flame of gambling within
him, for he won every Time.
AS the young wife leaned from the
easement, She dwclt with feyerish rest
lcs.ncss upon the events OF the past day
how the Young Freuchman who had
first awakened in Harry the love of
play had been shocked mt the misery he
bed SO unwituugIy caused, and had
p,ysscd on him the loan Of one hundred
francs, eNocuug The promise that, II he
tried his luck once again, and failed, he
would at once and for ever give up the
gamm g-table and return to mi, work.
Flushed with hope, and with strong
determination 10 keep his word. Harry
babe Margaret adeu with more than
usual tenderness, and went ouh rs he
said, "to conquer fate.
Some of his spirit entered into the
poor girls heart, and filled it for q bnci
moment with hope Then, m an agony
of fear and love, she called him back,
and Implored hum with tears and SooS,
whether he lost or won, never 10 cuior a
gamhlug-uouse again.
I'll wi. promise YoM dear, he said